BY MARNIQUE OLIVIERI-PANEPENTO, STAFF WRITER
Jenna Keppel, the assistant director for Student Activities, Programming and Engagement at St. Bonaventure University, is excited to see how Family Weekend turns out this year. Keppel started her position in June 2022, so, this weekend will be her first Family Weekend, like many new students too.
Twenty-four clubs and organizations will fill the basketball courts between the Sandra A. and William L. Richter Center and the Reilly Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 24. Anyone is welcome to attend the annual celebration and help support the clubs’ fundraising efforts.
The clubs participating are below:
PAC, Club Softball, BEA, The Bona Venture, ENACTUS (en – entrepreneurial, act – action, us – united), College Republicans, SPECTRUM, E-Sports Club, SGA (Student Government Association), Sophomore Leadership SGA, Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society (APS), St. Bonaventure Men’s Hockey, Student Ambassadors, ASIA (Asian Students in Action), STEP TEAM, Club Bowling, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), Women’s Club Soccer, SBU Food Pantry, Gold Bar Club, Bona Buddies, The Warming House, WSBU, and LASO (Latin American Student Organization).
There will also be 15 to 17 outside vendors, like local businesses and food trucks. The club portion is strictly accepting cash only. A variety of clubs are selling T-shirts and having various raffles. The club ASIA will do henna for profit.
Family Weekend will officially kick off on Friday evening with the Polar Spray, benefiting the Special Olympics of Western New York. Registration will begin at 4:30 p.m. and the fire hose will begin spraying at 5:30 p.m. at the basketball courts, where Dr. Jeff Gingerich, the 2022 Bonaventure president, will speak. Trivia Night will take place in the Hickey Dining Hall at 8 p.m., which is hosted by the Campus Activities Board and the Student Success Center. The night will end with music and smores at the new Marchiori Pavilion in front of Devereux Hall at 9 p.m.
Keppel said Saturday’s festival will be the more well-attended day, even her family is coming to Bonaventure.
Golf begins at 8 a.m. at the Bonaventure golf course, 236 E Main St., and from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., President Gingerich will be under the Marchiori Pavilion to meet for coffee with students and parents. The family 2.5-mile run and walk is set for 9:45 a.m. registration begins at 9 a.m. near the Allegheny River Valley Trail by tennis courts.
Throughout the day sports teams will also play at the Marra Athletics Fields Complex and grass field.
Some events are reserved for certain students and guests, like the alumni parents’ reception at 11 a.m. in the Reilly Center Hall of Fame room. Other receptions include the first-year honors program reception, Phi Eta Sigma induction and honors luncheon and the School of Education early assurance program reception. Everything that requires a special invitation and registration can be found here.
“Hopefully there is something for everyone to attend and have a good time,”said Keppel about the busy schedule on Saturday.
She said she wishes to add new events to future Family Weekends, especially after experiencing what this special weekend has to offer.
olivieme19@bonaventure.edu
